[Paper Review] Visualizing quantum mechanics in an interactive simulation -- Virtual Lab by Quantum Flytrap

Piotr Migdał, Klementyna Jankiewicz+3 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Mar 24, 2022

Neural Networks and Reservoir ComputingComputer Science80 references31 citations

TL;DR

This paper presents Virtual Lab by Quantum Flytrap, an open-source, no-code, browser-based interactive simulation for visualizing quantum mechanics in real time, supporting up to three entangled photons. It introduces novel visualizations for quantum states, entanglement measures, and operators using intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces, with applications in quantum education, simulation of quantum algorithms, and quantum information experiments.

ABSTRACT

Virtual Lab by Quantum Flytrap explores novel ways to represent quantum phenomena interactively and intuitively. It is a no-code online laboratory with a real-time simulation of an optical table, supporting up to three entangled photons. Users can place typical optical elements (such as beam splitters, polarizers, Faraday rotators, and detectors) with a drag-and-drop graphical interface. Virtual Lab operates in two modes. The sandbox mode allows users to compose arbitrary setups. Quantum Game serves as an introduction to Virtual Lab features, approachable for users with no prior exposure to quantum mechanics. We introduce novel ways of visualizing entangled quantum states and displaying entanglement measures, including interactive visualizations of the ket notation and a heatmap-like visualization of quantum operators. These quantum visualizations can be applied to any discrete quantum system, including quantum circuits with qubits and spin chains. These tools are available as open-source TypeScript packages - Quantum Tensor and BraKetVue. Virtual Lab makes it possible to explore the nature of quantum physics (state evolution, entanglement, and measurement), to simulate quantum computing (e.g. the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm), to use quantum cryptography (e.g. the Ekert protocol), to explore counterintuitive quantum phenomena (e.g. quantum teleportation & the Bell inequality violation), and to recreate historical experiments (e.g. the Michelson-Morley interferometer). Virtual Lab is available at: https://lab.quantumflytrap.com.

Motivation & Objective

• To lower barriers to quantum literacy by providing an accessible, interactive platform for non-experts to explore quantum phenomena.
• To address the challenge of visualizing complex quantum concepts such as entanglement and quantum operators in an intuitive, real-time interface.
• To develop reusable, open-source tools for quantum visualization applicable beyond photonics, including quantum circuits and spin chains.
• To support education, research, and prototyping in quantum information by enabling simulation of quantum algorithms and foundational experiments.
• To create a no-code environment that bridges quantum computing and end-users, particularly software engineers and students, through interactive exploration.

Proposed method

• The simulation is built on a custom numerical engine that models quantum state evolution, measurement, and entanglement for up to three photons.
• It uses a drag-and-drop graphical interface to place optical elements (beam splitters, polarizers, detectors) on a virtual optical table.
• Novel visualizations include a heatmap-like representation of quantum operators and interactive ket notation for arbitrary entangled states.
• Entanglement measures are visualized through dynamic, real-time metrics, including Bell inequality violation and CHSH correlators.
• The system supports two modes: sandbox for free experimentation and Quantum Game for guided learning with increasing complexity.
• Core visualization components—Quantum Tensors and BraKetVue—are released as open-source TypeScript packages for reuse in other quantum interfaces.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How can quantum entanglement and state evolution be visualized in an intuitive, interactive, and real-time manner for non-experts?
• RQ2 What novel visualization techniques can effectively represent abstract quantum concepts like density matrices, entanglement measures, and quantum operators?
• RQ3 Can a no-code, browser-based simulation environment effectively support both educational exploration and prototyping of quantum information experiments?
• RQ4 To what extent can interactive simulations improve understanding of counterintuitive quantum phenomena such as quantum teleportation and Bell inequality violation?
• RQ5 How can reusable, open-source visualization tools be designed to support diverse quantum systems beyond photonic setups?

Key findings

• Virtual Lab successfully enables real-time simulation of quantum phenomena including entanglement, interference, and measurement for up to three photons.
• The novel visualization of quantum operators as heatmaps and entangled states via interactive ket notation significantly improves intuitive understanding of quantum systems.
• The platform has been adopted in formal education at institutions including the University of Oxford and Stanford University, with positive feedback from educators and students.
• Over 450 user-created experiments have been shared, and the platform sees up to 700 unique daily users during events, indicating strong engagement and educational utility.
• The open-source packages Quantum Tensors and BraKetVue have been released and are designed for reuse in other quantum interface applications.
• Virtual Lab has been recognized at ACM CHI 2022 and shortlisted for D&AD Pencils, affirming its impact in both education and human-computer interaction design.